So, being the simpleton I am =), I’ve just been thinking about fruit…natural fruit…about the process to make it grow, etc. For instance, the growth of fruit, as with anything organic, takes time. We hate that. I’m still learning to love and appreciate words like “process” and “journey”. However, realizing the necessity of time doesn’t dishearten me anymore…it actually makes me want to endure and press to see what comes about! And as I wait, I still sow seeds for more fruit.

Bearing fruit, to repeat earlier, is a really loaded phrase. One verse that’s been prominent to me as I’ve meditated on this subject is Matthew 7:18. It says, “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” Believe it or not, we are actually referred to as trees…just look at Psalm 1. So, from this verse, we know there’s good fruit and bad fruit, but that’s ultimately dependant on the tree (us). So how do we know what kind of fruit is coming? After all, we can know. A farmer doesn’t plant an orange tree expecting watermelons, though I’d love to be see that. The dude would be an instant YouTube superstar. I may actually try that one day. Here’s how you can know: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever  a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows into his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) It’s all about what you sow…which manifests in what you do behind closed doors, in how you treat people, and ultimately, your personal pursuit of Jesus.

So, of course, all of us reading this want to bear good fruit. It’s a given. I’m right there with ya. That scripture out of Galatians gives us MONUMENTAL insight into making that happen. I want to present one more thought. A fruit seed, but it’s design, is engineered to grow. You been a seed in the ground, it’ll grow. Thank you science class. However, that seed reaching it’s full potential isn’t fully reliant upon itself. Soil, sunlight, water, protection from animals, etc all play a pivotal role. It takes faith on an outside role. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) That’s about as straight-forward as it gets.

Friends, it’s in us to grow, to mature. What becomes of that growth is dependant on our sowing and connection. I encourage you, as the Psalms says, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” Stay connected with godly people and authority and, ultimately, Him. There you can’t go wrong. And from that, there will be, from the earth, hundred, thousands, even millions shouting glory to God, all because they’re bearing good fruit.

You are loved…by us, but ultimately by Him.

Thus, in true blog happening, I am going to recount 2011. Actually, in sitting down to write this blog, there is so much I could cover. So, I’m only going to hit a few points that impacted me profoundly. **I feel like, at this point, I should let you know that I’m watching “A Christmas Story” as I’m writing. Not sure why, just thought you should know**

This year has truly been one of finding myself. As I type that out, I still feel somewhat like that statement is prideful. Truth be told, however, I’ve learned that personal indentity is CRUCIAL in life. I mean, who wants to spend their existence in this time living as something they’re not supposed to be? The month of Feburary truly brought a lot of this. We had an incredible Gathering at The Ramp, where the Lord reminded me of being filled with Holy Spirit when I was 11. I was a boy. I hadn’t danced in front of people. I didn’t know giftings. I didn’t know ministry. I didn’t know anything. I simply knew He was real, and that I wanted Him. And that’s where my connection with Him was made. It’s THAT connection that has stayed with me over a decade later. In the midst of being used in various ways, that nagging, foundational feeling of only needing Him has never left. Never let your giftings, or opportunities, or the like identify who you are. Platforms, engagements, connections, they’re all good, fun, and effective. Ultimately, however, what should drive you, and me, is the inward desire to simply be with and worship Him and Him alone. EVERYTHING flows from this one point.  Paul wrote, in Colossians, “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (3:1-4) All we are is found in who He is.

I’m sure no one in the south can write a blog of reminiscence and not mention the tornadoes that swept through in May. I actually had an extended conversation with my grandmother about this last week. Those few days in the spring have forever changed my life, and will never leave me. I won’t forget walking into Hackleburg, AL the night after the tornado hit. It was like a movie. Standing in the midst of destruction, realizing that people had died, been left homeless, and were left with nothing, reality fell the best it could on me. I didn’t lose anything, nor anyone. Volunteering those next few days taught me true ministry. The cameras, lights, sound, bands, all of it, have been amazing, fun, and filled with memories. However, interacting with those who have nothing, it teaches you something deeper. People came together in ways I never thought possible. I met a man who lost a sister, I believe, yet he was helping out with anything he could. I sat down with a woman, who had been transporting goods for various families. She looked at me. I gave her a simple smile. She broke down crying and said she just wanted to talk. Her house had been destroyed. They couldn’t find a relative. Yet there she was, being strong, longing to help others. Sometimes, when we’re praying for people in the altars, I can still feel what I felt there. Though the people in the altars aren’t without natural things, they are without in the Spirit. They have no home. They have no life. James defines true religion for us. He says, “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:27) I’ve spent my Christian walk longing to walk out the second half of that definition, but May showed me how to live the first half.

That’s part one. More to come!!!!

That’s why I love Men’s Gatherings. I looked around last night at the hundreds of men and saw hope…honestly. That’s the word I heard: hope. I’m so honored to be apart of this. To get to see all this beginning to unfold….it’s actually quite humbling. It’s hard to possess a haughty, prideful attitude when you’re getting to see the men, women, and children who are going to turn the nation, and the known world upside down. It simply makes you want to go lower and serve more.

I debated on what to write about it. There are a few main points in my life that the Lord is speaking to me OVER and OVER. I’M right now doing a character study on the man Barnabas. I’m still in the beginning stages, but even what I’ve read is amazing. Hopefully, in the coming future, I’ll be able to share. It’s definitely a story leading me to a life laid down for my brothers to step into their purpose. How awesome. More and more my heart is burning for true brotherhood.

HOWEVER, and now we come to the point of the blog, true brotherhood cannot be fully appreciated or practiced unless you have revelation of the One who created it to happen…the one who is Love. He didn’t just create the emotion of love, He is Love. It’s amazing how, when we read the Bible and find words of emotion, we simply attribute it to a carnal feeling we’ve felt all our life. That was a weird sentence…….let me give an example. In John 14:27, Jesus says He gives us His peace, not as the world gives. So, when we read from a carnal mindset, we assume that Jesus is going to give us something where we will never worry, never be fearful, and never doubt. No. The peace of God is found in one’s firm foundation of faith no matter what the circumstance says. It doesn’t dispel the fear or worry, it simply brings something greater to conquer it. I hope that makes sense.

Thus, His emotions, if you will, cannot be defined simply by our impaired understanding. They may manifest is that understanding, but it’s still not the same.

Anyways, rabbit trail. I come back to the point. The cry of my heart has simply been to know Him. It’s amazing, when you read scripture, how many outward manifestations we look for, but really, they’re all a product of a burning to desire to know Him….and to really know Him. I was work this past week, and as I’ve said before in past blogs, I’m blessed to have a lot of alone time. One day I was simply thinking about my job…which led me to think about the main guy that owns the factory I work for. His name is Bob Tiffin. Great guy. Seriously. I work for Bob. Bob had a dream many years ago, and now I’m apart of building his dream. Bob provides me with money, insurance, etc. I know what he looks like. I know what he sounds like. I know the effect it has on people when he comes into the room. However, in the midst of it all, I don’t know Bob Tiffin. I simply work for him.

See where I’m going with this? Jesus has been dealing heavily with me about the working life and the intimate life. I think we all find ourselves given over to the Martha mentality (Luke 10:38-42). We feel so justified by works. We think Jesus is going to like us better because of what we do. We feel like we’re good spiritually and in purity because of our outward actions. It’s the reason why, when we sin, we thrust ourselves headlong into serving at the church of helping or whatever. We want to do something that makes us feel justified, like our actions caused God to like us again. Listen friend, God hates sin….He gets mad at it. But His love never wanes either. It’s who He is. He is Jealous AND He is Love.

I want to know Him. Jesus said, in Matthew 7:21-23, that many would come having done the outward works of God, but they still we asked to depart, because they did not know Him. Jesus also said in John 17:3 that eternal life was knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Paul said, “…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;…”  (Phillipians 3:10). He also wrote, in Ephesians 1:17, “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” We want the products….the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, wisdom, revelation. However, do we want to know Him? That’s where it all flows from.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in Psalm 45. It says, “For Thou has loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee with the oil of joy above all Thine companions.” (vs.7) I was praying one day, just telling the Lord that I wanted to hate wickedness, sin, all of it, and love righteousness. I was praying very passionately that day actually. I heard Him say to me, “Simply get a revelation of ‘For Thou…’” I can force myself to hate evil. It’s in my power to do so. It says of the Demoniac of the Gadarenes (not his real name, but for memories sake…) that he was able to break his own chains. However, tying what we talked about earlier concerning the emotions, it isn’t about trying to hate and love under my own definition, it’s yielding to and knowing Him that produces those true feelings.

I know this is long, and sounds a little too psychological. But hey, it’s where I am. All of this, amazingly, was played out long before the whole of humanity grew to millions of people…well, now billions. It dates back to the garden. Jesus was called the second Adam both in Romans and 1 Corinthians. Romans 5 says He was a pattern of the One to come. The first Adam was created to walk in the garden to commune with the Father. He did the work. he named the animals, etc. But God still saw fit for a helper…a companion….a bride. God formed Eve. What was the first thing that happened? It says that Adam knew Eve. This term, to know, isn’t cognitive, it’s actually means to be intimate with.

Jesus, the second Adam, has a Bride that He wants to co-labor with Him. He wants them to do His works and greater. He wants to flow through them to let His love touch and save a lost world. But ultimately, I believe, He wants a Bride that He can know. That will DESIRE to know Him, not just because of the product of it, but because it’s Him. The creator of the universe. The God who didn’t understand us, thus humbled Himself to come be like us for a time, that He may sympathize with our weakness. Let’s know Him, and let all the works stuff flow from the never dry fountain.

“When you said, ‘Seek My face, ‘ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek. Do not hide Your face from  me…’” –Psalm 27:8-9

I anticipate this to be a rather short blog. However, the topic is an endless one. I think you could find scripture after scripture in both the Old and New Testament about it. However, for the sake of you staring at a bright screen, I will attempt to be brief.

I read a passage of scripture this morning, before work, that set my mind working all day. I have the blessed opportunity to have a job that allows me a lot of alone time, where I can pray, meditate, and just think on Him, His word, etc. And that’s what I did today. The scripture is found in Psalms. In chapter 35, we find David praying to God for deliverance from those who are contending  with him. It’s rather interesting. Verses 1-10 consist of David’s prayer about them being overtaken by the very traps they’ve set for him, and all the sort. Then, out of nowhere, David’s whole mindset shifts. He says, beginning in verse 11 (this consists of a few verses, so be ready), “Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer kept returning to my bosom. I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.” He goes on to talk about how these people, who he prayed and interceded for, rejoiced then at his stumbling.

Justification is something we deal with here in the natural. Obviously, we know that, in the spirit, our sin is justified by the blood of Jesus, but I speak of a different justification. I’m talking about the want to set things straight when someone talks bad about us. I speak of the desire to speak our minds to those who set themselves to prove we are fake, or bad, etc. However, I believe David has given us the proper response, in the small passage, on how to deal with those who deal treacherously with us personally.

What is that response, you ask? Simple, and very prevalent if you ask me. You pray for them. Simple. Easily practiced. Or is it? When I was thinking about this at work, I was amazed to think about the correlation and relation between Jesus and David. I mean, it was Jesus who said that we should pray for those who persecute us wasn’t it (of course). I have found, from personal experience, that it’s harder to pray for those who are against you than simply speak you mind to them. You know why? Because, just like them, we are blinded by the deception that all we think is true. Therefore, we are truly like them. But that’s the beauty of learning to pray for them. When we pray for those who persecute us, all of the sudden the Lord begins to highlight in us the things that need to change….not for the sake of trying to back down from the people, but for the sake of love. Love always triumphs. Why? God is love. God always wins. Love always wins.

I hope this flowing all right. Simply put, I want to encourage you to pray for those who hurt you. Pray for those who have spread false rumors about it. Pray for them. Pray that the would be blessed. That they would so be filled with a spirit of wisdom of revelation of Him. That they would be in good health. You get the point. I think this is truly coming in the  opposite spirit of man, which is what Jesus did.

Try it. I think you’ll find that you’re the one that’ll change LONG BEFORE the one you’re praying for changes.

A lot of my blog posts are determined by conversations I have with people. In my life, I’ve noticed, I will, for certain periods of time, be asked about a certain subject, or in talking with other people, that same subject will come up somehow. Thus, I come to todays subject: resisting temptation. Unfortunately, I don’t have all the answers. I wish I did. Maybe when I’m 90 I’ll be able to confidently say that I do. All I can merely do is speak from experience.

This whole topic has changed in my way of thinking in this finishing season. And that’s apart of it. Damon prophesied that we would be moving out of the age of the sword and into the age of trumpets….not that we wouldn’t have to fight anymore, but that we would be fighting FROM victory and not FOR victory. How powerful is that? One of the scriptures that has greatly changed my way of thinking is Galatians 5:16. It says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” What a promise! I mean, it’s a pretty straightforward text. If you walk by His Spirit, you won’t gratify, carry out, the desire of the flesh. And I love the phraseology! If we walk BY Him. As Damon has taught us, a lot of these wordings are positional. So, when I hear that, I, in my mind, see Holy Spirit literally walking beside me and I beside Him. Paul goes on, in verse 25, to say, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Walk there could actually, also, be rephrased to say, “follow the Spirit”. How do we live by the Spirit. Well, how do you live as a human? What are the essentials to our existence? Food. Water. Sleep. Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son. Jesus declared Himself to be the Bread of Life. Hm. I think that is found in Holy Spirit. The Father said, in Jeremiah 2, that He is the Fountain of Many Waters. And there are multiple promises that we can rest in His presence.

Here’s the thing, and I was telling a person this last night, we like to wait until the temptation of battle to get into spiritual mode. No. For instance, this girl told me she was battling depression. Earlier in the service Holy Spirit told me to go declare encouragement over her. So, she got touched, and it was awesome. But when I was talking to her, I told her, “That’s a word of the Lord for you. Don’t wait until the next battle to say it. Remind the enemy everyday of what He has said about it, about you.” To me, that is effective warfare. Sometimes you just need to remind your enemy what The Father has said about you through His word, through spiritual fathers and mothers, and to you in your personal time with Him. The Old Testament is filled with accounts of naming the size of the armies if Israel and then throwing in there that no one wanted to attack them.

It’s all simple. I know. It’s not that flakey spiritual warfare that everyone wants it to be. But simple is good. I can do simple. One last scripture. 2 Peter 1:2-5 says, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining the life and godliness, through true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped that corruption of that is in the world through lust.” Selah. In our ever growing knowledge of Him, through prayer, the word, and intimacy with Him, we are filled with EVERYTHING we need pertaining to life and godliness. That’s a magnificent promise my friend. One to be taken hold of.

Let’s do this. But not in the carnal way. Let’s overcome by being overcome by a Savior who wants us free more than we want to be free.

Love you guys.

Things truly have changed for me though. I feel like my thought process is that of a different purpose. And that was the purpose the whole time, I believe….maybe just for me. But at the beginning of this month I sort of has a freak out day, because I knew EVERYTHING I wanted to get done probably wasn’t going to happen. However, after conversing with Jesus about it, I realized that, even I had gotten those natural things done, it would have been irrelevant had I not dealt with the wrong mindsets that led me there. I hope I wrote that out correctly and understandably. For example, it seems pointless for me to get my finances in line if I can’t also deal with the way I lived that led me to that need. It’s true repentance. It’s truly changing the way that I think. And it leads to this communion with Him that is incommunicable. I am hearing Him like never before…and it’s so fun! So, with only a few days left until this thing is over, I encourage everyone to press into Him, and from there let Him…there’s an unusual grace for it.

However, all this talk, as awesome as it is (and will probably be elaborated more in the future) is the purpose of this blog. Actually, unlike most, if not all, of my blogs in the past, this one isn’t really about spiritual things.  I entitled it ”Activist” for a purpose. So let us proceed.

Now, so you understand my purpose in this blog, I am not here to debate various political topics that are prevalent for the 2012 elections. I’m not here to debate to talk about the current president or the many men and women vying for the Republican candidacy. I’m simply writing this blog to spur an interest in you, the reader, to actually be heavily involved in this election to come. It’s been my assumption that most of my readers are professed Christians, those who want to see a true awakening come to this land. I’m honored you would take time to read all of this. Truly, I am.  Believer, I want to speak to you.

I’ve noticed, especially in the 2008 elections and on this road leading to 2012, that a lot of people really don’t research on the candidates they are voting for. I saw this predominately last Monday. I, like millions around the nation, watched the Republican Tea Party debates, and was a little astonished by the comments I heard coming from the people watching it along side me. Simply put, a lot of phrases I heard weren’t from an intellectual place of study or knowledge about issues or candidates, but simply word vomit that someone else had said, either from a religious platform, a news program, or radio station.

Again, I realize that many reading this blog are most likely believers. I also recognize that many of you are probably young people, since your knowledge  of me is likely through The Ramp. I want to encourage you to GET INVOLVED in this election. Go study up on issues that truly are going to affect us in the long run. See what Social Security really is. Find out why there are so many issues with Medicare. Learn why or why not Obamacare is necessary for this nation. Obviously, I am remaining on neutral ground. I have my personal views on certain things, and people, that I don’t want to sway people. Again, as I stated earlier, that isn’t the purpose of this blog. I simply want to stir you to do some research. Get involved. Jesus created you for this time, for this place, and you have a chance to change this nation, not only in the heavens, but also in the natural.

The bottom line is, awakening isn’t going to destroy politics. We’re not going to do away with democracy and all live hand in hand like The Waltons. Good fairy tale, but not happening. However, when awakened people get a revelation of what God wants, they can in turn vote for the people who can implement that. That same awakening can even, and I believe it will, hit the candidates themselves.

I just want YOU to be involved. Don’t rely on someone else to tell you how to vote. I’m not saying that it’s wrong to hear what you’re pastor, or youth pastor, or favorite singer has to say, but go do some research for YOU. From there, pray. Pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit. Pray for this incoming president, trust me, they need it. Farther than that, pray for our current president. He needs it. Believe it or not, Jesus wants him to be burning too.

Let’s just be proactive. Proactive in prayer. Proactive in the word. Also proactive in natural things that affect the country. We have a voice. Let’s use it.

So here we are, in a war. The thing about my generation? We love being apart of something that will bring about change, and we don’t want to do it alone. So for us, for me, the average, every day man who works a forty hour a week job, who has bills to pay, who tries to keep a social life (despite my awkwardness, haha), who really loves Jesus, how do I start this whole thing? YOU simply burn. YOU simply become a person given over the will, knife, and plan of God. The Lord has been speaking to me lately about Abraham having to sacrifice Isaac. It’s a pretty darn intense story when think about it. God asking a father to literally sacrifice his son. Can you imagine the psychological and emotional affects Abraham must have been enduring while walking with Isaac and his other guys? What in the world.

Anyways, here’s the thought, Abraham laid Isaac on the altar. But that wasn’t enough. It wasn’t until Abraham lifted up his knife, probably in anguish, despair, yet having faith in YHWH, that God saw, was pleased, and intervened with a ram. I think we’re pretty good at putting things on an altar in a moment. We go to conference, or even seek God in prayer, and in a moment we hear and know that Jesus has called us to cut away some things…..not to be mean, not to be domineering, but because He knows that it will eventually destroy unnecessary weights that hinder us from running with all our guts and fulfilling purpose. So we lay it down…and that’s it. However, I believe God is looking for a knife wielding people. Those who will lay it down publicly, but will do what it takes behind closed doors.

That’s what Abraham did. The story says, Genesis 22, that two servants came with Abraham. I’m pretty sure they weren’t dumb. Abraham was carrying everything necessary for a sacrifice. However, they PROBABLY didn’t know WHAT was being sacrificed. So you see, people may see that something is happening, but only you can truly kill it in a secret place. We’ve got to have the heart that says we will do whatever it takes. And you know where that comes from? Seeing Him. I believe that’s what made Abraham so obedient, the fact that He knew the One who was speaking to Him. When your eyes and ears are attuned, your face set like flint, you just do whatever it takes. I’ve been reading a book entitled The Imitation of Christ by a monk named Thomas a Kempis (he lived a LONG time ag0). He wrote something I loved. He said, “Who wages a stronger battle than he labors to overcome himself? And it should be our daily desire to overcome ourselves, so that we may be made stronger in spirit and go daily from better to better.”

So, one, I’m not telling to go engage in human sacrifice. However, you are both Abraham and Isaac. You are the wielder of the knife and the offering that is pleasing unto God. I, along with you, am simply asking for such a grace for faith and a heart of obedience….and just more revelation of Him that will lead me to do, lay do, witness to, pray for, fast for, etc. etc. whatever He wants.

Making HIM happy is the goal. Let’s do whatever it takes….

We had another incredible Gathering this past weekend. Of course, and I think I have said this before on here, I have never left a Gathering saying, “Man. That was horrible and/or average.” He just comes, which in itself is an amazing thing. It reminds of of David saying, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him…” in Psalm 8. He really does care about us, and wants to be found by us…which is the purpose of this blog.

On Friday, a couple of hours before the first service, I got on Facebook to catch everything up. I saw that I received a message from my amazing Grandmother. She was talking about seeing the team dance on TV and how far the Lord had brought me. It was all very encouraging. She also reminded me of some things that happened when I was a child. You see, I wasn’t raised in a “Christian” environment like most southern people. We didn’t go to church, didn’t really associate with “saved people, etc. When I was ten, however, my mom got rocked by the Lord, radically saved, delivered, filled with the Holy Ghost. All of it. It was amazing. I can still remember. Anyways, we would go to church, and all the people would be dancing and lifting their hands. She reminded me of asking question after question about the expressions of worship.

Here’s the kicker. I can remember thinking, “These people are worshiping Jesus. They must have their hands raised so they can touch Him.” So, I would go into worship on Sunday mornings reaching as hard as I could to touch Him. I wanted to worship and touch God. It was such an awesome thought to be reminded of going into the Gathering. I kept saying it over and over in each service, “I just want to worship and touch You!” It all synced together with a verse I had been reading all this week. In 1 John 1:1-3, it says, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life- and the life was manifested and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and was manifested to us- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” It’s always been interesting to me that John makes it known that he had seen, heard, and interacted with Jesus on a real level. It wasn’t metaphorical. It wasn’t symbolic. He really did.

Jesus wants to be found my us. It’s the bottom line. He wants to be seen by us. To be heard by us. For us to touch His heart. Why is that such a radical concept to us? It’s a complete 180 from the norm of the church. Conferences, services, etc. are put on for the sole fact of people getting what they need. And that’s not bad. It’s not sin. Many are necessary. However, what if we had those special Gatherings, services, whatever you want to call them, that were for the SOLE purpose of touching Him? When did He stop being enough?

It’s a frustrating thought. It doesn’t get me frustrated at other people, but at myself. There are so many tangents I can go on with this, but I think you get the point. Let’s be a people out to worship Him. To love Him…..just because it’s Him. How radical a thought.

Lord, give us a revelation of You.

As usual, I wanted to share what Holy Spirit has been speaking to me. He is so open to speak. I’m learning more and more than it’s us that’s just  not open and/or available to hear. This blog is about a subject that has been written about more than ay other topic. It’s had more songs sung about it. It’s had more debate surrounding it. It’s love. Pure and simple love. And not the love that can be generated by our human emotions. I want to find foundation for all this in that simple statement. This love I’m going to be writing about isn’t our love. His love is not our love. His definition is so much more vast and complicated, yet perceived, with Holy Spirit’s help, by the darkest of sinners who call on Him in their time of repentance.

I want to love people. I’m tired of being content feeling above those I deem “spiritually lost” or “not as on fire” as I. It’s so easy to do. I daresay that nearly, if not every, person reading this can recall a time in worship, prayer, church, etc. where you look at a certain individual and feel inwardly justified because you know you’re doing so much better than that person. You know where they are. You know what they’ve done, or are doing. And here you are, loving God. And yet, Jesus warns us of such mentality in Luke 18:9-14. We all have heard some sort of sermon on it. And yet, too easily we find ourselves sitting in the position of the Pharisee. We trust too much in our righteous deeds. I never want to forget that it’s only by, through, and with Jesus that I live, move, and have my being (Acts 17:28) 

I’ve been stuck in the book of 1 John for a few days now. I’ve simply been reading it over and over…sometimes as a whole, and sometimes chapter by chapter. It’s just an important book of the Bible, as they all are, to understand correctly. If we don’t, we just obscure everything that writer says twist it to fit our complacent position. Ok. I wanted to share a specific passage, however, to encourage us as believers. 1 John 4:7-14 says,  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit. We have seen and  testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.”  A lot to read, I know. But I love those passages! I’m sure many of you recognize a couple of them at least. However, one that always stuck out was the random interjection in verse 12 that no one has seen God at any time. Wait a minute. We’re talking about God being love, and abiding in Him, and Jesus came into the Earth for us…..and BAM! no one has seen God. Oh thanks for that John, we remember that He said that to Moses back in the book of Exodus.

Of course, we understand that John put that in there for a reason. Here, in my heart, is why. The two main themes we find in the book of 1 John is that God is light and God is love. Again, as we started out saying, it’s just who He is. We are very prone to simply advancing this light aspect of God’s nature. Think about it. Nothing hides from light. It’s not possible. And that’s just naturally speaking for us. Imagine the light that come from HIM. Jeez. Revelation 22 makes a small reference to it. However, we cannot emphasize of gospel of light if we’re not ready to be filled and exude the gospel of love. I think that’s why that interjection is there. No one has seen God, John says. Then there’s a semicolon.  Could it be, as the scripture is showing, that though no one has seen God, if we love one another, God abides in us, and then can be seen through us?  After all, Jesus DID say that the world would know that we are Christians by our love for one another (John 13:35) . We get to be the manifestation of His eternal love  for mankind, and through that, release the light of the Gospel that dispels of sin. It reminds me of Jesus going to the demoniac of the Gadarenes. Someone, or some people, placed that man there, actually chained him. And yet here comes Jesus. By the end of the story, with light and love, the man is found sitting at Jesus’ feet fully clothed and in his right mind.

Even as I’ve been writing, I’ve been asking myself, “Why this blog now?” Simple answer. Many of you work secular jobs. Most are going back to high school or college, are about to start it. Let’s set ourselves to TRULY manifest His love in the Earth, by loving each other, and by loving Him. Of course, this practical application of learning to love is sitting at the feet of the one who is Love. People try and try, especially in ministry, to love without having ANY consistent relationship with Jesus. It’s simply impossible. Sure, some people will feel accepted, but will they encounter LOVE? It’s how the homosexual is going to get delivered. How the suicidal will be saved. How the lost will see Him. You’re the way. I’m the way. It’s simply how He wants to do it, so let’s prepare.

I love you guys. (haha, love)

I had someone tell me once, well, ask/tell me that it must be awesome to be in the middle of the will of the Lord, walking in confidence. I agreed, but also let it be known that sometimes knowing that will and standing in it is a fight. Welcome to where I am. Sometimes things in life get so unclear. You’re living for Jesus, walking in purity, seeking Him with all your heart. Things are moving, happening, prayer is being answered. Yet there are just certain areas that feel gray, unknown. As humans, we do our best to mentally gauge and figure out these areas, thinking that if God is answering in these other areas, maybe we’re supposed to do this on our own. FAIL. Just fail.

Personally, I have some decisions to make. I’ve done my best to figure it out on my own…and found myself at square one…even after all my deep thinking and intellectual mind-jargon. I’ve found myself sitting on the edge of my bed in silence, near tears, not having any direction. However, this is where the beauty of Jesus and Holy Spirit comes in. We’re so quick to think Jesus can’t do anything without us. We think our input is so valuable compared to the maker of the billions of stars. Then He speaks….

I heard Him whisper to me John 14. Truthfully. I couldn’t remember what it said. I knew that John 14-17 had to do with Jesus talking to His disciples and then praying for them and over them. John 15 contains some of my favorite passages of the whole Bible. However, it was the beginning of John 14 that ripped my heart. Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” It was here I was just taken aback. How could I NOT trust in the one who as saved my soul, set me free, and countless times proven over and over that He is faithful to His word? A few verses down, it says, “And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Isn’t that our quick response so many times? We know He wants to take us somewhere, but we immediately excuse ourselves from pursuit because He hasn’t IMMEDIATELY told us what to do, what it’ll look like, etc. The answer Jesus gives is one of the most famous passages in all of scripture. It is mostly used in relation to salvation, as it should be. However, I hope you read these words and find encouragement in His answer. Jesus said, in response to Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me.”

He is our answer. It’s such a cliché phrase. It almost irritates me to put it ‘cuase it’s so simple. But it’s true. Too often we allow our questions of the future impair our present pursuit. Don’t stop searching FOR HIM. We are promised back in the book of Matthew that if we seek first His Kingdom and its righteousness that we will be provided for. So, with burning hearts, let’s seek the one who has our affection. To search till we find Him, and when we find Him, we’ll just press more and more…no matter what.

Be encouraged tonight. And if you’re not, go find His presence until you are.

Love you all.